Danish Cheese Pastry Recipes

DANISH PASTRY

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and 2/3 cup of flour. Divide into 2 equal parts, and roll each half between 2 pieces of waxed paper into a 6 x12 inch sheet. Refrigerate.
• In a large bowl, mix together the dry yeast and 3 cups of the remaining flour. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the milk, sugar and salt. Heat to 115 degrees F (43 degrees C), or just warm, but not hot to the touch. Mix the warm milk mixture into the flour and yeast along with the eggs, and lemon and almond extracts. Stir for 3 minutes. Knead in the remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time until the dough is firm and pliable. Set aside to rest until double in size.
• Cut the dough in half, and roll each half out to a 14 inch square. Place one sheet of the cold butter onto each piece of dough, and fold the dough over it like the cover of a book. Seal edges by pressing with fingers. Roll each piece out to a 20x 12 inch rectangle, then fold into thirds by folding the long sides in over the center. Repeat rolling into a large rectangle, and folding into thirds. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• Remove from the refrigerator one at a time, and roll and fold each piece two more times. Return to the refrigerator to chill again before shaping. If the butter gets too warm, the dough will become difficult to manage.
• To make danishes, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. The dough can be cut into squares, with a filling placed in the center. Fold 2 of the corners over the center to form a filled diamond shape. Or, fold the piece in half, cut into 1 inch strips, stretch, twist and roll into a spiral. Place a dollop of preserves or other filling in the center. Place danishes on an ungreased baking sheet, and let rise until doubled. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (220 degrees C). Danishes can be brushed with egg white for a shiny finish.
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the bottoms are golden brown.

CHEESE DANISH

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese, 1/4 cup/32 grams confectioners' sugar, the egg yolk, the salt and the vanilla until smooth. Transfer the mixture to a resealable plastic bag; set aside.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out into a 12 1/2-inch square. Trim 1/4 inch off each edge. Cut the dough into nine 4-inch squares. Brush the corners of each square with a bit of the beaten egg, then fold each corner into the center and press down gently. Transfer the squares to 2 parchment-lined baking sheets.
• Cut the tip off one corner of the filled plastic bag so you have a 1/2-inch hole. Use the bag to pipe the cheese filling onto the center of each dough square. Loosely cover the pastries with plastic wrap and let stand until slightly puffed, about 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes. Heat oven to 425 degrees.
• Remove the plastic and gently brush the top and sides of the dough with the beaten egg. Bake for 10 minutes, then rotate the sheets and reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees. Continue to bake until pastries are puffed and deep golden brown, another 6 to 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the remaining 1 cup/128 grams confectioners' sugar and the milk. Let the Danish cool slightly on the sheet then drizzle with the glaze. Serve warm or at room temperature.

DANISH CHEESE PASTRY

Steps:

• 1. For the dough: Combine the flour, granulated sugar, yeast and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Add the butter and pulse to combine. The mixture should be the size of small peas. Transfer mixture to a medium-size bowl.
• 2. In a small bowl, combine the egg, milk and 2 tbsp. water. Add the egg mixture to the flour. Using a rubber spatula, fold the mixture until it is evenly moistened. Place the dough onto a piece of cling wrap and shape into a small rectangle (make sure it is wrapped well). Chill for approximately 3 hours - up to a day.
• 3. Lightly flour the surface and rolling pin and roll out your dough into a rectangle (8 x 15 inch). Have the short side facing you and then fold the dough into thirds (as you would fold a letter) - folding the top third of dough down and the bottom third up. The dough will appear rough and flecked with pieces of butter, but as you roll out your dough, it will come together. Rotate your dough and repeat the folding process two more times. Continue dusting the work surface including your hands and the rolling pin with flour. Wrap the dough in cling wrap and refrigerate for approximately 1 hour.
• 4. Roll and fold the dough one more time. Refrigerate the dough if it becomes difficult to roll. Now wrap the dough in cling wrap one more time and refrigerate approx. 2 hours or overnight.
• 5. For the filling: In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese, 1/4 cup confectioner's sugar, the egg yolk, salt and vanilla until smooth. Add mixture to a resealable plastic bag and set aside.
• 6. Roll out your dough to approximately a 12 1/2-inch square. Cut 1/4 inch off each edge and then cut dough into 9 4-inch squares. Brush the corners of each square with some of the beaten egg and then fold each corner into the center and press down gently. Move the squares to two parchment-lined baking sheets.
• 7. Snip the tip off one corner of the plastic bag to make a 1/2 inch hole. Pipe cheese filling onto the center of each dough square. Loosely cover the pastries with cling wrap and let them stand until slightly puffed up, approximately one hour or slightly longer.
• 8. Meanwhile, heat oven to 425 degrees. Remove the cling wrap and gently brush the tops of the pastry with the beaten egg. Bake for 10 minutes and then rotate sheet pans and reduce the oven temp to 375 degrees. Continue baking until they are puffed and golden brown in color, approximately 6-8 minutes.
• 9. Combine and whisk together the remaining 1 cup of confectioner's sugar with the milk. Let the pastry cool slightly on the pans and then drizzle with the glaze. Serve warm or at room temperature.

SCRATCH-MADE CHEESE DANISH RECIPE

Steps:

• Make one recipe of danish dough from my Morning Buns recipe. Complete the dough to step 11. I recommend watching the Morning buns video for a step by step instruction.
• On a floured surface, roll out the danish dough to a 12 x 12 inch (30x30cm) square and cut the dough into 9 squares.
• Place the squares of dough onto the baking sheet and fold the corner of each square in towards the center. Press your finger into the center of the square to create a dent.
• In a bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk and vanilla extract until well blended. Place in a piping bag.
• Pipe about 2 tablespoons of filling into the dent at the center of each square.
• Cover the danishes with plastic wrap and let proof in a warm place until puffed, about 1 to 1 ½ hours.
• When the dough is proofed, heat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
• Remove the plastic, brush the dough with the egg wash, and bake for 10 minutes.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C), rotate the pan, and bake for another 5-10 minutes, until the danishes are golden brown. Let cool on a wire rack.
• These danishes are best the day they are made, but any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Re-crisp in a 300°F (150°C) oven for about 10 minutes.

EASY CHEESE DANISH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
• Place the cream cheese and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and cream them together on low speed until smooth. With the mixer still on low, add the egg yolks, ricotta, vanilla, salt, and lemon zest and mix until just combined. Don't whip!
• Unfold 1 sheet of puff pastry onto a lightly floured board and roll it slightly with a floured rolling pin until it's a 10 by 10-inch square. Cut the sheet into quarters with a sharp knife. Place a heaping tablespoon of cheese filling into the middle of each of the 4 squares. Brush the border of each pastry with egg wash and fold 2 opposite corners to the center, brushing and overlapping the corners of each pastry so they firmly stick together. Brush the top of the pastries with egg wash. Place the pastries on the prepared sheet pan. Repeat with the second sheet of puff pastry and refrigerate the filled Danish for 15 minutes.
• Bake the pastries for about 20 minutes, rotating the pan once during baking, until puffed and brown. Serve warm.

CREAM CHEESE DANISH

Steps:

• Remove puff pastry sheets from the freezer and packaging. Place on counter to thaw for 40 minutes. Meanwhile, let cream cheese and eggs come to room temperature. Line two cookie sheets with parchment. Set oven rack to the middle and upper third of the oven. Preheat oven to 400ºF. In the last 5 minutes of the pastry thawing time, make the cream cheese mixture. Beat the cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, lemon juice, and extracts on medium-low speed until combined. Scrape bottom and sides of the bowl. Increase speed to medium-high and beat until completely smooth. Roll the puff pastry sheets lightly to smooth the fold lines. Use a pizza or pastry cutter to cut into four squares. Place 4 squares on each baking sheet. Whisk the egg, water, and salt together. Brush egg wash onto the border of each square. Fold in the corners of the squares. Dollop 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture in the middle of each pastry. Brush any exposed pastry dough with the egg wash. Bake for 18 minutes, rotating the sheets at around 10 minutes. Remove from cookie sheets onto wire racks Let cool at least 10 minutes before serving. The centers will deflate slightly as they cool. Serve warm or at room temperature.

CHERRY CHEESE DANISH RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°.
• Lay out one roll of puff pastry and cut it in half and then in half again. Making 4 even squares.
• Leaving a ½ centimeter edge, start ½ centimeter in from the corner and cut parallel to one side not quite to the middle. Start from where you cut at the corner and make an L going down the other side but not all the way to the middle. Do this on each corner. (see photo for example)
• Repeat on all 4 squares.
• Mix cream cheese, sugar and Bourbon in a bowl. Put one scant teaspoon in the middle of each corner of the pastry.
• Place one cherry and small amount of filling on each cream cheese corner.
• Dip finger in water and dampen each corner to help them stick.
• Fold each cut corner piece into the middle making sure to press slightly so it will hold. Put one cherry in the middle.
• Repeat with second roll of pastry.
• Bake for 12 min.
• Remove from oven and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Enjoy!

EASY CHEESE DANISH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line 2 baking pans with parchment paper.
• Beat the whole egg with 1 teaspoon of water in a small bowl; set aside.
• Beat the egg yolk, cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice and vanilla in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until smooth.
• Lay out the 2 sheets of puff pastry and cut each into 4 squares. Fold the corners of the squares over by about 1 inch to make octagon shapes. Spoon the cream cheese mixture evenly into the center of each (about 2 tablespoons per); do not spread the cream cheese. Brush all of the exposed pastry with the egg wash, then dust generously with sugar.
• Bake until puffed and golden brown all over, about 18 minutes. Cool slightly before serving.